Safety can



Sept. 5, 1939.

w. A. LEBUS 2,172,142

- SAFETY CAN Filed July so," 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mz'ZZz'am A. Leus M ,mza

Sept.'5, 1939. I w. A. LEBUS SAFETY CAN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 50, 1938 Patented Sept. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- SAFETY on:

Application July 30, 1938, Serial No. 222,106

5 Claims.

The invention relates to liquid containers, and more particularly it relates to improvements in venting and spout closure devices for cans and receptacles such as are commonly used as containers forkerosene, gasoline, naphtha, and other combustible and explosive liquids.

The invention has among its objects the provision of improvements in closure devices for spouts and venting conduits and improved means for actuating said devices.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved valve mechanism adapted to normally close the discharge spout of a can and an improved normally closed venting device operable independently of the valve mechanism, and improved means for manually moving the mechanism and device to their respective open posi: tions.

' A further object of the invention is the provision of improved means operable to simultaneously open a spout controlling vave mechanism and an independently operable venting device of a can, said means being positioned contiguous to the handle of the can whereby the operator is enabled to grasp the handle and said means with one hand and thereby to simultaneously open the spout and venting device and tilt the can to a position for discharging the contents through the spout.

Many other objects and advantages of theconstruction herein shown and described will be obparts herein shown and described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like or correspond ing parts:

Fig. l is an elevational view of the top of the can illustrating an operatively connected venting device and a spout controlling valve mechanism, respectively illustrated in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view drawn to a larger scale of a portion of the can and the venting device and valve mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view of the venting device in open position; and

Fig. 4 is a View along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the numeral I generally designates a closed portable can or receptacle and a handle I I rigidly connected withthe top of the can by any suitable means such as rivets I2 or by welding. The handle II comprises a bar'of any suitable size and shape adapting it to be easily grasped by one hand and is preferably so positioned that its longitudinal axial line coincides with a vertical diametrical plane of the can. 5

The top of the can Ill provides an aperture for a spout I3 positioned outside of the handle II and preferably in diametric alignment with the longitudinal axis of the handle. The spout I3 is inclined to the vertical axis of the can at an angle adapting it as a discharge conduit by suitably tilting the can. The spout I3 closely fits within a ring I4 having a lower flanged edge engaging the can and fastened by welding or the like to provide a fluid tight connection. The spout I3 is locked 16 in place by a collar threaded on the ring I4 to engage an annular shoulder provided by the spout. A fire screen It forming an extension of the spout I3 has its outer end providing a flange clamped between the spout and the ring 14. A

flexible pouring hose I!, connected as shown with the outer end of the spout, facilitates discharge of the contents of the can without waste.

The spout I3 is normally closed by a valve assembly consisting of a plunger stem I8 reciprocally movable in a bore l9 provided by the body of the spout and a valve disk 20 mounted on the inner end of the stem. A gasket or disk 2| of gasoline-treated leather or smiliar cushioning material is mounted on the disk 20 and is pressed against a seat 22 by the action ofa compression spiral spring 23 positioned in the bore I9 and surrounding the stem I8. The bore I9 is of uniform diameter throughout its length except at its lower end where its bounding walls converge to provide a close sliding fit with the stem I8. A cap 24 mounted on the outer end of the stem I8 and projecting from the bore I9 also has a close sliding fit in the bore and forms an abutment for the adjacent end of the spring 23. The converging bounding wall at the lower end of the bore I9 provides a seat for a gasket serving as an abutment for the other end of the spring 23, the resilience of the spring being such that it normally maintains the valve assembly in the full line positon of Fig. 2 wherein the gasket 2| is pressed against its seat 22 and thereby seals the spout I3. The valve assembly is actuated to its dotted line position shown in Fig. 2, wherein the spout I3 is open to the flow of fluid, by means of a plunger arm 25 pivotally connected with the spout by a pin 26. The upper end of the arm has a lateral projection 21 engaging the cap 24, the mounting of the arm being such that it is in the full line position shown in Fig. 2, when the valve assembly is closed. Movement of the arm 25 from its full line to its dotted line position causes the projection 21 to move the valve assembly to its open dotted line position. Actuation of the arm 25 to open the valve assembly is accomplished by means of a pull lever 28 pivotally connected at one end with the lower end of the arm by means of a pin 29 and extends through a slot 30 in the handle II to operatively engage and open a ventingdevice when moved from its full line to its dotted line position. The intermediate portion of the lever 28 provides an upwardly projecting loop 30 conti uous to the handle II and of dimensions enabling the loop and handle to be easily engaged with one hand and a pull exerted on the lever to move it to its dotted line position and actuate the valve mechanism to open the spout l3.

The venting device is mounted on the can H1 in diametric alignment with the handle II and the spout l3 and is operatively connected with the pull lever 28in order that it may be opened simultaneously with the opening of the spout 3 to permit inlet of air as fluid is discharged through the spout.

The venting device comprises a conduit 3! preferably taking the form of a tubular member fiattened at one end to provide a slot sufiiciently narrow to prevent flames or sparks from entering the can in case of combustion occurring within the conduit. The handle I i terminates in a flange 32 closely fitting the top of the can. The conduit 3! projects through registering apertures provided by the can and the flange 32, and the space surrounding the conduit is sealed in any suitable manner to prevent flow of fluid from or into the can. The venting device also includes a cap member 33 operable to open and close the conduit ii. The member 33 is positioned between a pair of standards 3% projecting upwardly from the flange 32 and is pivotally connected with the standards by a pin 55. her 33 projects over the conduit 31 and provides a valve disk adapted to be seated on and seal the conduit. A compression spring 3! operatively engages the other end of the member 33 and normally maintains the disk 36 seated on the conduit 3!, as shown in Fig. 2.

The member 33 is tiltable about the pin 35 to open the conduit 3 shown in full lines in Figs. 3 and 4, by the described movement of the pull lever 28 from its full line to its dotted line position to open the valve mechanism controlling the spout i3. Release of the lever 28 and its return to its full line position by the acton of the valve spring 23, tilts the member 33 back to the closed position of the conduit 3!, shown in Fig. l and permits the spring 37 to press the disk 3% down upon and seal the conduit. 7

The member 33 provides a bore 38, and the contiguous end of the pull lever 28 provides a plunger stem 42 positioned in and loosely fitting the bore, the stem being reciprocally moved in the bore as the lever 28 is moved from its full line to its dotted line position and vice versa. The loose fit of the stem 42 in the bore 38 adapts the venting device to be operable independently of the valve mechanism controlling the spout l3 and in case there is an accumulation of gases in the can, the member 33 will open automatically to permit venting of the excess gases while the spout i3 is closed. The loose fit of the stem 42 in the bore 38 also eliminates the necessity of exact relative inclination of the spout controlling valve mechanism and the venting device which would be required and would substantially One end of the memincrease the cost of production if the lever stem 42 had a close fit in the bore 38. The position of the venting device and of the lever 28 relative to the handle II is such that in case the can is accidentally overturned, the lever and device are protected by the handle and the lever will remain in the closed position of the venting device and the spout.

By way of summary, the spring controlled valve mechanism normally maintains the spout l3 closed and the spring controlled member 33 normally maintains the conduit 3| closed. The member 33 is adapted to be automatically moved by excess gas pressure within the can to open the conduit 3| independently of the valve mechanism controlling the spout I 3 and both the venting device and the valve mechanism are simultaneously movable to open position by manual actuation of the pull lever 28.

Thus, it will be seen that I have provided an improved spout controlling valve mechanism and an improved venting device for use with closed cans or receptacles of the kind described, said mechanism and device both being spring controlled to normally maintain them in closed position and said venting device being automatically operable independently of the valve mechanism to release excessive gas pressure when the spout is closed. The invention also provides means operable by the handle grasping hand of the operator to actuate said mechanism and venting device simultaneously to open the spout and venting device to permit inflow of air as fluid is dis charged through the spout.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination with a can having a discharge spout, a venting conduit in diametrical alignment on opposite sides of the can and a handle in alignment with said spout and conduit, of spring controlled valve mechanism normally closing the spout,v a pivot member automatically operable independently of said mechanism to open and close the conduit, and a pull lever positioned contiguous to said handle and operatively related to said mechanism, and member, said lever being manually operable to be rotated and move longitudinally relative to said hand and thereby to actuate said mechanism and device to simultaneously open the spout and the conduit.

2. The combination with a can having a discharge spout and a venting conduit in diametrical alignment on the opposite sides of the can, an inverted U-shaped handle in alignment with said, spout and conduit, of spring controlled valve mechanism normally closing the spout, a stem operatively connected with the valve and having one end projecting from the can, a spring controlled pivot member normally closing said conduit and automatically operable independently of said mechanism to open the conduit to permit venting of accumulated gases, and a pull lever positioned contiguous to said handle said lever being simultaneously rotatable and movable longitudinally, one end of said lever being operatively related to said stem and the other end being operatively related to said pivot member whereby said combined movement of the lever simultaneously actuates' said pivot member to open the conduit and said mechanism to open the spout.

3. A closed can of the kind described having a discharge spout and a venting conduit in diametric alignment on opposite sides of the can, an inverted U-shaped handle extending across the top of the can in alignment with the spout and conduit, a spring controlled plunger valve normally closing the spout, a stem operatively connected with the valve and having one end projecting from the can, a spring controlled pivot member normally closing said conduit and providing a bore extending transversely to the rotative axis of the member, a pull lever positioned within and extending longitudinally of said handle with one end positioned in and loosely fitting said bore, a pivotally mounted arm having one end operatively related to the projecting end of said valve stem and its other end pivotally connected with said lever, the connection of the lever with the arm being such that a pull exerted on said lever tending to move it towards the intermediate portion of the handle rotates said arm in a direction to actuate the stem to open the plunger Valve and also moves the other end of the lever longitudinally of said bore and slightly tilts said member to open the conduit.

4. A closed can of the kind described having a discharge spout and a venting conduit in diametric alignment on opposite sides of the can, an inverted U-shaped handle extending across the top of the can in alignment with the spout and conduit, the conduit being positioned underneath and the spout being positioned outside of the handle with the end of the handle adjacent the spout providing a slot, a spring controlled plunger valve normally closing the spout, a longitudinally movable stem operatively connected with the valve and having one end projecting from the can, a spring controlled pivot member normally closing said conduit and providing a bore extending transversely to the rotative axis of the member, a pull lever positioned inside of and extending longitudinally of said handle with one end projecting through said slot and its other end positioned in and loosely fitting said bore, a

pivotally mounted arm having one end operatively related to the projecting end of said valve stem and its. other end pivotally connected with said lever. the connection of the lever with the arm being such that a pull exerted on said lever tending to move it towards the intermediate portion of the handle rotates said arm in a direction to actuate the stem to open the plunger valve and .also moves the lever longitudinally in said bore and slightly tilts said member to open the conduit.

5. A closed can of the kind described having a discharge spout and a venting conduit in diametric alignment on opposite sides of the can, an inverted U-shaped handle connected with and extending across the top of the can in alignment with the spout and conduit, the conduit being positioned underneath and the spout being positioned outside of the handle with the end'of the handle adjacent the spout providing a vertically elongated socket, a spring controlled plunger valve normally closing the spout, a longitudinally movable stem operatively connected with the valve and having one end projecting from the can, a spring controlled pivot member normally closing said conduit and providing a bore extending transversely to the rotative axis of the member, a pull lever positioned inside of and extending longitudinally of said handle with one end projecting through and vertically movable in said slot and its other end positioned in and loosely fitting and longitudinally movable in said bore, the intermediate portion of said lever providing a loop projecting upwardly to a position adapting it and the handle to be grasped by one hand of an operator, a pivotally mounted arm having one end operatively related to the projecting end of the valve stem and the other end pivotally connected with said lever, the connection of the lever with the arm being such that a pull exerted on said lever tending to move it towards the intermediate portion of the handle rotates said arm in a direction to actuate the stem to open the plunger valve and also moves the other end of the lever longitudinally of said bore and slightly tilts said member to open the 

